Significant snowfall brings big boost for resorts – two opening this weekend
Edited by: TJV News
Winter weather has officially arrived in the Pocono Mountains and our six major ski resorts are embracing the freshly-fallen snow. While several properties have already opened for the 2019-2020 season, some earlier than ever before, others are gearing up for opening day with help from Mother Nature’s early Christmas gift. Several inches of natural snow will enhance the already exceptional conditions created by snow guns, according to resorts that are already seeing strong early-season interest.
For the most up-to-date information regarding opening dates and snow conditions, visit the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau’s Snow Conditions page. Before hitting the mountain for skiing, snowboarding or snowtubing, check out our live cameras showing real-time action on your favorite slopes!
Big Boulder & Jack Frost Mountain
Big Boulder Projected Opening Date: Currently open weekends, opening daily starting Monday, December 9, 2019
Jack Frost Projected Opening Date: Opening daily starting Friday, December 13, 2019
New in 2019-2020: JFBB is now part of the Vail Resorts family of resorts. For winter 2020, all Vail Resorts Epic Pass holders will have full access to JFBB, and JFBB guests can purchase the Epic Pass or upgrade their already purchased Peak Pass at epicpass.com. The Epic Pass offers pass holders access to 37 resorts across the US, Canada & Australia, and many other resort partners across the globe
Blue Mountain Resort
Projected Opening Date: Currently open daily
New in 2019-2020: Addition of 40th trail called “Coming Soon” – the ungroomed trail features seven skiable acres of exhilaration and escapades and is only open when there is enough natural snow, all 122 Burma Chairs being refurbished, new tuning and retail shop in the Valley lodge featuring one of the best tuning machines on the East Coast, new PistenBully 400 Park groomer featuring the latest tiller and blade technology with state-of-the-art grooming capabilities, discount incentives for online purchases – online customers can receive great discounts by buying in advance, especially during off peak times (with this model, guests could score a lift ticket for as low as $20!)
Shawnee Mountain
Projected Opening Date: Re-opening daily starting Saturday, December 7, 2019 (opened the last two weekends)
New in 2019-2020: 85% of trails have automated, computer-controlled snowmaking capabilities (snowmaking covers 100% of all Shawnee’s 125 acres of skiable terrain – 85% now fully automated), new 4,000-foot state-of-the-art Snowcat Service Building, new PistenBully 400 Free Grooming Machine
Camelback Mountain
Projected Opening Date: Opening daily starting Friday, December 6, 2019
New in 2019-2020: 377 new HKD snow guns including 1 Halo Fan, 196 tower guns and 94 Vipers (this is the largest improvement and investment on the mountain in the resort’s history!) Camelback has also added a new state-of-the-art PistenBully 400 Snowcat to its grooming fleet for smoother slope conditions
Ski Big Bear at Masthope Mountain
Photo Credit: poconomountains.com
Projected Opening Date: Saturday, December 14, 2019 (tentative)
New in 2019-2020: Updated equipment in rental shop, new snowmaking equipment allowing crews to put down more snow during cold temperatures, ability to sell tickets online
To learn more about the 2019-2020 ski season and bonus special offers, check out this information supplied by The Pennsylvania Ski Area Association (PSAA).
Pocono Mountains visitor information is available online at PoconoMountains.com or by phone at (570) 421-5791. Follow @PoconoTourismPR on Twitter to stay current with up-to-date information. Established in 1934, the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau is a private, non-profit membership organization. The PMVB is the official destination marketing organization for the four counties of Wayne, Pike, Monroe, and Carbon in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
About the Pocono Mountains
With 2,400 square miles encompassing Pennsylvania’s Wayne, Pike, Monroe, and Carbon counties, the Pocono Mountains region is home to rolling mountain terrain, breathtakingly beautiful waterfalls, thriving woodlands, and 170 miles of winding rivers. Winters offer guests the opportunity to ski, snowboard, snow tube, and even snowshoe their way through snowy wonderlands encompassing over 163 ski trails, while summers also cater to the active traveler allowing exploration of 261 miles of hiking and biking trails, over 30 golf courses, whitewater rafting, boating, fishing, and open access to nine state and two national parks.
